BOARD MINUTES
August 23, 2004
Harney County Museum Clubroom—Burns, OR
Board Members:
Grant County:
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Harney County:
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Malheur County:
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Peggy Carey
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Jean Cain
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Cheryl Cruson
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Chad Freeman
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David Fine
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Dave DeMayo
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Gary Judd
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Steve Grasty
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Don Hodge
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Bob Quinton
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Barbara Sam
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Linda Simmons
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Dennis Reynolds
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Oregon State Department/Agency Representatives:
Ann Beier, DLCD Planning Services Mgr
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Barb Higinbotham, Employment Dept.
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Katy Coba, DOA Director
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Jack Isslemann, OECDD Deputy Director
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Rena Cusma, ODOT
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Kirk Jarvie, DSL
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Cherie Davis, ERT
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Jon Jinings, DLCD
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Scott Fairley, DEQ
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Rick Minster, OECDD
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Monte Grove, ODOT
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Mark Radabaugh, DLCD
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Ann Hanus, DSL Director
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Bob Repine, OHCS Director
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Stephanie Hallock, DEQ Director
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Bruce Warner, ODOT Director
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GEODC Staff:
Sondra Lino
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Elizabeth Lyon
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Guests—Meeting:
Pauline Brayman, Independent Journalist
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Martin Davis, Malheur Co Econ Dev
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Bill Burstow, Harney Co Econ Dev
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Denny Mills, Harney ESD
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Tom Butler, Representative Dist. 60
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Mike Sirrine, Harney Co Businessman
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Tim Smith, Harney Co Resident
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Guests—Dinner Only:
Wayne Baron, Harney Co Businessman
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John Hamilton, TVRR
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Connie Brumback, Harney Chamber
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Dan Nichols, Harney Co Commissioner
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Darrin Brumback, Harney Co Resident
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Ruth Schultz, Mayor of Hines
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Candy Hamilton, TVRR
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Kevin Taylor, Hines Councilor
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Laura Van Cleave, Mayor of Burns
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The meeting was called to order by Chair Steve Grasty. Self-introductions were made.
Minutes/Financial Report: Move/Second/Pass—Simmons/Cruson—approve the minutes of July 26, 2004 with one correction (page 3, last paragraph: brides should read bridges). The July financial report was presented. As 2003-05 Regional/Rural Investment Funds have been received and the first allocation made, this biennium’s accounting has been added to the report. The Select Onion award was disbursed from all three biennia to zero out 99-01 and 01-03 funds. Interest that continues to accrue on undisbursed funds from past biennia will be shown in 03-05 on the Cash Flow Analysis.
Staff Report: Lino reported that the only application received for this round of grant funding was from Dixie Creek Ceramics. The applicant has requested $281,106.80. It will not go the full board for a funding decision as it does not meet the basic guidelines of: (1) filling the final funding gap, (2) readiness to proceed within six months, (3) providing significant matching funds (goal is 5:1) and (4) the amount of funds requested per job created (goal is $5,000 per job).
A meeting is being arranged in Salem on August 26 by the Association of Oregon Counties with a goal of developing a legislative argument in favor of restoring Regional Investment Program funding to 01-03 levels. Regional staff and board representatives have been invited. Grasty and Lino are both planning to attend. Board input is being solicited. There was discussion of the delay in getting funds to the regions (12 months in this biennium), yet board performance is being evaluated on effective use of those funds during the biennium. Butler pointed out the need for buy-in by the local legislators.
An article from the Western Farmer-Stockman website regarding Select Onion’s business expansion was passed around.
The Oregon Business Council, on a statewide road trip, will be meeting August 24 at the Health Services Building in John Day.
Southeast Area Commission on Transportation (SEACT): Grasty reported on the meeting of the Oregon Transportation Commission in Baker City where the SEACT charter was approved. The region was granted a waiver of the required 50 percent elected officials on an ACT board. This was requested due to the fact that most elected officials in this area are volunteers and are not able to make the time commitment necessary to attend regular meetings in a region of this size.
Public meetings to take comments on the STIP will be held starting in October. It is hoped that meetings can be held prior to that time to determine local transportation planning needs. Grasty noted that one of the Oregon Transportation Commissioners felt that all (federal, state, and local) transportation projects should go through the ACT. Grasty did not think this was a realistic option.
Cusma gave an update on current projects in the region. Some of them are: the Nyssa Bridge will be open in September to accommodate the sugar beet harvest; the Hwy 20 route will be open for heavy traffic by June 2005; the North Ontario Interchange is moving forward with the planning phase; John Day to Prairie City is almost complete; the Steens Hwy is almost done after the contractor had to re-do quite a bit of the work (discussion about how small contractors can do some of the work such as providing training or bundling of projects); slides to the Weiser Bridge are done; several projects are about to go out to bid including Cairo Junction to Ontario Airport Corner (some accesses may be closed); safety and speed is being looked at in Hines; the $910,000 rail spur to Treasure Valley Renewable Resources has been approved. She also announced the bridge aesthetics training in Baker City on September 8.
In response to a question, Grove explained the difference between hot mix and cold mix for road repair.
The SEACT meeting was adjourned.
Economic Revitalization Team (ERT)/State Employee Report: Cheri Davis talked about the Industrial Site Certification process in HB 2011. Twenty-five opportunity sites have been identified, five in eastern Oregon. More need to be identified and an inventory of potential sites is needed. Harney County hopes to have two certified sites. The ERT is examining population projections and the impact on urban growth boundary expansions.
The Community Development Forum is meeting again. It is made up of such groups as the Association of Oregon Counties, League of Oregon Cities, Ports Association, and the ERT. This group is looking at their priorities and what can be supported at the legislature. More representatives from eastern Oregon are needed at these meetings to point out potential impacts on rural areas. Meetings are generally held on the I-5 corridor with the next meeting scheduled for September 28 at the Local Government Center in Salem. Davis will send the information to Lino for forwarding to the board.
Fairley announced two upcoming workshops. Budget and Rate Setting for Water and Sewer will be held September 23 in La Grande. Rural Brownfield Workshops will be held October 5 in La Grande and October 7 in Bend.
Radabaugh reported that both Ontario and Vale have received grants. Ontario will also be getting $5,000 for planning how to best manage downtown development through the Oregon Downtown Development Association.
Cheri Davis reported for Bruce Buchanan of OHCS. A Community Action Program is being established in Malheur and Harney Counties. It is hoped that more resources will be available to the area through this program. No housing applications were received from the SRA area.
Higinbotham announced that the Workforce Response Team has selected four projects for funding. They include Holy Rosary Medical Center and three retail businesses. There is still $90,000 available for training and $40,000 for capacity building. These funds are for existing businesses to train workers that have been employed at least 120 days.
Representative Butler stated that he knows the best use of funds is locally controlled. He praised volunteerism and maximizing local resources. He cited Baker County as a good example of matching public funds with local resources and prison programs. The SRA is a forum to bring issues to the table and take them further, if necessary, including to the legislature.
ERT Agency Directors Visit: Agency directors arrived for lunch with the board. Self-introductions were again made. Regrets were expressed by agency representatives on behalf of the two directors unable to attend: Marty Brantley of OECDD and Lane Shetterly of DLCD.
County representatives gave a brief overview of their respective counties with an emphasis on the economic conditions and the challenges faced. Speaking for Malheur County were Dave DeMayo and Martin Davis, for Grant County, Dennis Reynolds, Chad Freeman and Peggy Carey and for Harney County, Steve Grasty. Barbara Sam spoke on behalf of the Burns Paiute Tribe and Harney County.
Each of the agency directors or their representatives discussed their programs. Ann Hanus, Department of State Lands Director, handed out two documents. One was a press release about the Rangeland Grazing Fee Advisory Council. Representatives from this region include Dan Nichols, Harney County Commissioner, and Martin Andre, a rancher and lessee from Arock. Copies of the DSL 2005 Legislative Concepts were distributed. She also discussed streamlining measures, waterway navigability and the efforts to secure lands from BLM that will go to the Common School Fund.
Bob Repine, Director of Oregon Housing and Community Services, also distributed two documents. One is a Housing Market Needs Analysis done for communities that are pursuing Certified Industrial Lands. The other is a blind letter sent to a business interested in locating in an Oregon city. This service is available for other areas. OHCS is addressing the need for housing in areas where new businesses are being developed (example: the new prison opening in Lakeview). He described first-time homeowner programs available to employees of businesses moving to Oregon. He also discussed the HDDI (American Dream Down Payment Initiative) that has grants and loans available to qualified first time homebuyers. There are also housing rehabilitation resources available.
Stephanie Hallock, Director of the Department of Environmental Quality, stated that her goal is to bring balance in DEQ programs and that one size does not fit all. They have added to their mission so the goal is now to “…support communities in solving environmental and economic issues.” She has worked with two regulatory streamlining committees in an effort to make things work better for the public. She addressed the ongoing struggles between environmental regulations and economic development.
Katy Coba, Director of the Department of Agriculture, stated that the department goal is promoting economic development in the agriculture industry as well as regulating it. They look at adding value to agriculture in the state, including working with renewable energy resources. Recently, diseases have been a major challenge. She discussed the budgetary impacts and challenges. They are working with Brand Oregon and agricultural tourism. She described the role played by the Food Innovation Center.
Jack Isslemann, Deputy Director of the Economic and Community Development Department, discussed the continued lack of sufficient budget to do all that needs to be done. He also discussed the challenges of the federally funded CDBG program. He briefly described the Inland Northwest Economic Adjustment Strategy and its potential benefit to the region. The infrastructure funds are limited and there is always a greater emphasis on loans than on grants. There was discussion about the guidelines for municipal water and sewer rates when obtaining OECDD funds. The department was legislatively required to develop an economic strategy. Three basic goals have been established: advance business opportunities, assist communities to build capacity to attract, retain and expand businesses, and create meaningful performance measures to track how they’re doing on the first two. Development of Certified Industrial Sites, including clean up of brownfields, is a major objective. He discussed some of the proposed means of implementing the plan and the legislative and budgetary goals to support them.
Ann Beier, Planning Services Division Manager for the Department of Land Conservation and Development, also addressed that department’s efforts toward streamlining their processes. They are helping to identify and address problems with industrial land designations. They are requesting funds from the legislature to do a 30-year evaluation of Oregon’s land use system and identify changes that are needed. She also commended the regional DLCD representatives on their efforts on behalf of eastern Oregon. They can help local governments access the services needed early in the process.
Bruce Warner, Director of the Department of Transportation, stated that their priority is to implement all aspects of the transportation plan as passed by the 2003 legislature. He talked about some specific parts of the plan. He discussed the streamlining efforts including simplified contracting and fund disbursal for local bridges. They are looking at more multi-modal projects and working with DSL, DLCD, federal agencies and others to better move projects forward. He also discussed funding of the Treasure Valley Renewable Resources rail spur. Most authority and responsibility is now in the regions allowing ODOT to address local differences.
The meeting was recessed for a tour of the Monaco Plant and a drive-through of the clean-up project at the old radar station.
After a break, the meeting was reconvened. Several community members joined the Board and the ERT for dinner. Following the meal, John Hamilton of Treasure Valley Renewable Resources gave a presentation about his project. He expressed his appreciation to the ERT for all their work in moving the project through the system.
Next Meeting: The next meeting will be held on September 27 in Grant County.
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